Canna Centers, Santa Clara, San Jose, CA

The Evaluation Process

Being evaluated for approval to use medical marijuana is similar to regular medical evaluations performed by most physicians. When you arrive for your visit, you will be asked to fill out a Patient Intake Packet. You will meet with the licensed physician, who will perform a medical history and physical exam. Your medical records will be reviewed. If you qualify for medical marijuana based on the law and the physician’s professional opinion is that you may benefit from its use, you will be issued a signed recommendation letter. The physician will also outline a treatment plan, discuss the side effects, risks and benefits of treatment, and arrange a follow-up visit. The physician will also explain the different ways that cannabis may be used so that you can minimize any side effects and maximize beneficial effects.

You should bring any and all medical records, prescriptions, xray/MRI results, worker’s compensation and/or disability paperwork with you to your visit. We must see documented proof of your diagnosis to determine if you qualify for medical cannabis and protection under the law. Remember that this is a legal process in addition to the medical aspects, and you will want to be able to legally prove that you qualify if you are charged with a marijuana crime.

Our professional approach, meticulous medical documentation and expertise have helped a number of patients who were unjustly charged with marijuana crimes win in court. We do it the right way and ask that you provide the proper paperwork about your condition – together we can keep you safe!

What you Should Bring to Your Doctor’s Visit

*Current California photo ID (not expired)

*If you do not have California-issued ID, bring any photo ID (passport, license from another state) and two forms of residency (for example a phone bill, lease, pay stub, bank statement – they must show a CA address)

Cannabis has been used for thousands of years, both recreationally and medically. People all over the world know the effects of cannabis, yet until 20 years ago, no one knew how it worked within our bodies. In the early 1990s, research scientists identified a system they named “the endocannabinoid system”. It is made up of cell receptors and of the chemicals that bind to these receptors. This system has been identified in the some of the most primitive creatures on earth. It has been found to be the most widespread receptor system in the human body, explaining why cannabis has so many different effects. The endocannabinoid system appears to regulate many important physiologic pathways in the human body, including gastrointestinal activity, cardiovascular activity, pain perception, maintenance of bone mass, protection of neurons, hormonal regulation, metabolism control, immune function, inflammatory reactions, and inhibition of tumors cells.

The cannabinoid receptor system has two kinds of receptors:

• CB1 receptors – found mostly in the brain, spinal cord and other parts of the body including the heart, uterus, testis, liver, small intestine and peripheral cells

• CB2 receptors – found mostly on cells of the immune system, including the spleen, T-cells, B-cells and macrophages

A group of compounds, called cannabinoids, bind to the receptors. Cannabinoids come from three different places:

• Endocannabinoids – these are produced by the body on demand, usually in tesponse to injury; five different endocannabinoids have been identified, including anandamide and 2-AG

• Synthetic cannabinoids – these are produced by scientists in a laboratory and include dronabinol (Marinol) and nabilone (Cesamet)

• Phytocannabinoids – these are produced by the cannabis plant; there are over 70 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, including THC and cannabidiol

The cannabinoids interact with the receptors, much like a lock and key. The receptor is the lock and the cannabinoid molecule is the key. When the cannabinoid “key” attaches to the receptor “lock” (located on a cell wall), a reaction is triggered resulting in an effect on the brain and body. For instance, the area of the brain that controls memories is called the amygdala. When cannabinoids bind to the receptors on the cells of the amygdala, memory is affected. For those that suffer from past traumatic events who relive horrible memories (such as those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), the triggering of the cannabinoid receptor appears to change the brain function and memories are minimized.

A study using weakly radioactive THC-like synthetic drugs investigated where the human cannabinoid receptors were located. When people were given this radioactive drug and their brains were x-rayed, CB1 receptors were found all over the brain. The results showed that cannabinoid receptor binding sites in the human brain are localized mainly in: the forebrain areas associated with higher cognitive functions; the forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain areas associated with the control of movement; and in hindbrain areas associated with the control of motor and sensory functions of the autonomic nervous system. This is consistent with the fact that cannabis has many different effects on mental function.

Since the discovery of the endocannabinoid system, researchers have been working on developing synthetic cannabinoids, hoping to find a compound that gives the benefits of cannabinoids without the psychoactive effects. This is still an ongoing project and most synthetic cannabinoids do not have the same effects as the cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Many researchers are concentrating on studying the endocannabinoids (the cannabinoids produced in the body), in order to understand why our bodies make these compounds and how they regulate the many different physiologic processes in the body. And many scientists are attempting to study the effects of the phytocannabinoids, those that are found in the cannabis plant; however, this area of research is somewhat hindered due to the plant’s illegality as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. The lack of research on the effects of cannabis on many medical conditions reflects this difficulty. With state-sanctioned medical cannabis laws, we are seeing more studies in this arena and hopefully will gain full understanding of what patients and which conditions may benefit from the use of cannabis. For now, many patients are using natural cannabis for relief of conditions for which medications have not worked or have been too toxic.

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